Let’s get honest: Cash flow issues don’t just hurt your P&L—they crush your mindset.
If you’re feeling like you’re barely making payroll, constantly watching your account balance, or secretly dreading the first of the month, you’re not alone. We call it “Cash Flow Row” in our consulting company, and unfortunately, it’s a familiar place for many dentists.
Even worse? Cash flow problems often lead straight to burnout. And that’s a road we’ve seen too many good dentists go down.
Kiera recently sat down with one of our consultants, Dana, to talk real strategies we use with our clients to help them get off cash flow row—fast. Whether you're an established practice or a startup, these tactics apply to anyone looking to stabilize their business and reclaim some peace of mind.
Step 1: Cut with Strategy, Not Panic
First, get your P&L and overhead reports out. Look at what’s truly necessary and what’s just a nice-to-have. What subscriptions are you still paying for but no longer using? Are there equipment loans for tech you haven’t touched in months?
One common culprit: practices holding on to unused CBCTs, scanners, or redundant software licenses. If it’s not helping you generate revenue now, it’s a liability. Don’t let pride or sunk-cost thinking keep you stuck.
What not to cut: your producers. This includes hygienists, treatment coordinators, and yes, even your consultant—if they’re driving results. If your billing team is collecting and your hygiene ops are producing, those aren’t expenses—they’re investments.
Step 2: Attack the AR Like a Hawk
We had a client who swore they were broke—until we pulled their AR report and found $300,000 sitting uncollected.
Here’s the deal: If you’ve done the dentistry, you deserve to be paid. But too many teams wait until the end of the month (or worse, the end of the quarter) to chase AR.
Build these habits:
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Require two dedicated AR hours per week for your biller—non-negotiable.
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Split focus: one day on insurance, one on patient balances.
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Set a new expectation to collect at check-in, not check-out.
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Use text-to-pay and digital statements to increase payment speed.
And doctors—if your team doesn’t know how to work AR effectively, train them or outsource it. Unworked AR is lost income, plain and simple.
Step 3: Stop Obsessing Over Gross Production
I’ve heard it a hundred times:
“We’re a million-dollar practice!”
But then I ask: Collected or adjusted? And the real answer is often closer to $500k.
Inflated fee schedules might feel good on paper, but net revenue is what feeds your family. So get serious about:
Strategic scheduling matters here. Quadrant dentistry, strong same-day treatment conversions, and block scheduling can completely change your daily flow—and your bottom line.
Step 4: Get Out of Excuse Land
It’s easy to blame the market, staffing, inflation, or insurance reimbursements. But excuses won’t move your practice forward.
Burnout and cash flow stress feed off inaction. What you need is a plan—and accountability to follow through.
At Dental A Team, we use our YES Model with every client:
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You: Leadership clarity and personal fulfillment
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Earnings: Profit strategy rooted in real numbers
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Systems: Processes and teams that drive consistency
Whether you’re $30k behind on collections or just trying to figure out why your bottom line keeps shrinking, the solution starts with you taking action.
You’re not a bad business owner.
You don’t need to figure this out alone.
And yes, there is a way off cash flow row.
If you’re in the thick of it right now, start by getting your AR cleaned up, your schedule optimized, and your numbers dialed in. From there, build back intentionally—and lean on the support you need.
Ready for Your Cash Flow Comeback?
We love nothing more than to make sure your dental practice is truly THRIVING! Schedule a call.
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